An idiom is a commonly used word or expression with a figurative meaning. They are also called figures of speech. With over 20,000 idioms in English alone, it is important to be familiar with them to understand casual communication.
Meanings of idioms are, by definition, not literal. When someone has “kicked the bucket”, it is understood that the person has died, not that he has physically struck a container with his foot. Because knowing the definition of each word in the idiom may not tell the listener or reader what the idiom actually means, they rarely translate well into other languages. Here is a short example of figurative phrases and idioms list:
Easy as pie
Beat around the bush
Catch one’s eye
Have one’s hands full
Rain cats and dogs
All of those phrases are frequently used, even though their meaning isn’t apparent from the individual words that compose them. An idiom can depend on cultural context, time period, and even slang to be understood. When an idiom is overused to the point of losing meaning, it is considered a cliché, for example, if a man said that his suit “cost an arm and a leg”.
Idioms enrich language with unique expressions and interesting cultural history. Fluency in these figurative constructions is essential to understand literature and conversation.